On Dec. 2, while traveling on U.S. Highway 26, Matthew Weatherman, of Warrenton, hit some black ice near Banks and wound up with his truck wrapped around a tree.

Among his injuries, Weatherman suffered a fractured pelvis, several fractured ribs, fractured vertebrae and a collapsed lung. He was given several units of blood in the emergency room, intubated and taken to intensive care. Adding to the physical trauma, he was heartbroken because his little dog Bravery ran off into the woods after the wreck.

Matthew’s moms, Colleen and Susan Carette, went to the accident scene the next day to find Bravery, taking one of their other dogs with them. “ … Our dog, Daisy. She is the true heroine in this story,” Susan Carette wrote in response to a People magazine story. “From the landing I secured on the cliff, Daisy … spotted Bravery below … I could not get to Bravery from my position.

“I told Daisy ‘Go get Bravery, go get the puppy.’ Daisy looked over the drop, then moved to her right and went down the precipice … After she sniffed Bravery, they made their way up the embankment and into my arms … ”

“Wagging Tails Search & Rescue along with Andy Hasenkamp of the Oregon State Police,” she added, “were pivotal in Bravery’s return.”

Bravery was whisked to the hospital and reunited with her master. The search and heartwarming reunion story was featured in a video by KPTV as well as going national with the People magazine story.

Meanwhile, Weatherman has a long road of recovery ahead, during which he won’t be able to work, and there will be medical bills to face, as well. A GoFundMe has been created for him at bit.ly/Help4Matthew.

As of one of the latest updates, he has been extubated and has been moved out of intensive care. “He’s staying pretty positive all things considered,” his friend, Jenna Bowers, wrote, “and this fundraiser is definitely helping!” (Photos: GoFundMe)